Here are my first three knives. I've made a few others from Mild Steel from Home Depot just for practice, but these are the first ones made form quality Steel. The Small Drop Point is CPM154, and the Straightback, and Tanto are both 1095. They are currently awaiting heat treat, handles and finishing. I think the Small knife will remain Skeletonized, but any suggestions on handle material for the other two?? I'm thinking OD Green G10 :cool:.

The CPM154 is stainless steel and very difficult for a first time maker. The 1095 carbon steel is basic and not considered high quality because it rusts easily and usually requires a black coating.
It is your first time grinding?

The CPM 154 blade steel is not supposed to be beveled (sharpened) before a stress relief cycle to prevent warping during the hardening process. After the austenitized steel is gets a cryogenic bath in liquid nitrogen the unsharpened blade blanks get a final tempering to reduce brittleness.

Good looking blades for a beginner. Nice clean lines. The two bottom ones look like they will be real good user knives around the camp. You can't go wrong with eather of the steels you have chosen. I totally disagree about 1095 being not a high quality steel. It is a high carbon steel that stains easyer but can hold a great edge and is really easy to field sharpen. Literally millions of blades gave been made from it and it has time tested standing.

I agree with you on putting G10 scales on the top two. You might think about a camo g10 instead of just green though.

I agree with you on putting G10 scales on the top two. You might think about a camo g10 instead of just green though.

The G10 is made of laminated fiberglass cloth soaked in resin, compressed, then baked. It is usually only available in black. Folding knives are best application for this material because it is lightweight.
DuPont makes Zytel? which is available in various colors.
If the skeletonized look is what you desire try bead blasting which gives a subdued, non-glare finish.

The CPM154 is stainless steel and very difficult for a first time maker. The 1095 carbon steel is basic and not considered high quality because it rusts easily and usually requires a black coating.
It is your first time grinding?

This was my first time grinding knife steel, and the first time I used my new grinder or sander (Craftsman 2x42). I was practicing on mild steel using a 1x30 which was terrible so then I built a filing jig. It was ok but was a lot of work even with a rough cut file, so then I got the craftsman which still could be better.. I want a KMG.

The CPM 154 blade steel is not supposed to be beveled (sharpened) before a stress relief cycle to prevent warping during the hardening process. After the austenitized steel is gets a cryogenic bath in liquid nitrogen the unsharpened blade blanks get a final tempering to reduce brittleness.

I'm still a newbie to you guys and have only recently started to experiment with my on HT so I'm not trying to argue, but CPM 154 is Air hardening. So that means it can have an edge thickness of .0015" minimum if memory serves.? That knife is far from sharp, the edge is still at least 1/16".

CPM154 can be air quenched but you'll get one to two points higher hardness at quench if you quench in oil. Even when air quenched it is in air at a 4 bar minimum, not still air. Stainless is pricey compared to carbon steels so you want to get the best results possible. Besides, the commercial knife manufacturers nearly always choose the simplest hardening process for any given steel because it is easier, cheaper, and faster. Our advantage as custom knife makers is that we can take the time to squeeze the most from out blade steel and that is one of the main reasons most informed buyers will pay our prices.

Waters awesome first knives! So you want a kmg huh? yeh you do i have one its deffinitly my favorite tool! i went from a 4x36 to the kmg HUGE difference i actually tried out a grizzly after i got the kmg and yeh its a good grinder too but ill keep my kmg anyday. very easy to kit out how you want it too. I do have a question your blades are 1095 and cpm154 right? how do you plan on heat treating them? are you going it your self or sening out? you have a oven? forge?